Are you hungry, Happy Valley?
If you answered yes, then get ready to delight your taste buds, because the third annual Happy Valley Culinary Week is scheduled from June 22-28.
Culinary Week is a seven-day celebration of the art of cooking, local foods and the chefs who prepare them.
The establishments that are ready to show off their meals are: Carnegie Inn and Spa, Mario’s, Home D Pizzeria, The Deli, Down Under Steak House, Hublersburg Inn, The Corner Room, Harrison’s, Gigi’s, Spats Café, The Tavern Restaurant, The Allen Street Grill, Faccia Luna, Zola’s, The Dining Room at the Inn, Liberty Craft House, Rotelli’s and Hi Way Pizza.
Monday events for Culinary Week include a Happy Hour Special (half off all mixed drinks and wine) at Home D Pizzeria and Robin Hood Brewing Co. Ten percent of your meal’s proceeds will be donated to PAWS. That night, your dog is welcome on the patio.
Monday also includes Homemade Ice Cream or fruit based sorbet (kids welcome) at Spat’s Café, 142 E. College Avenue. “From scratch to delicious” boasts the website. Reservations are required. Call (814) 238-7010.
Tuesday, June 23 events include a five-course meal at Home D Pizzeria and Robin Hood Brewing Co. This is a charity event for Bridge of Hope Centre County. Call Bridge of Hope for reservations at (814) 237-HOPE. The Happy Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. is repeated with half off mixed drinks and wine at HD/RBC.
On Tuesday, Spat’s Café is holding a Molecular Gastronomy Chef Demo. Call for reservations. This one teaches a modern version of nacho cheese. Or, you can learn to turn balsamic vinegar into caviar pearls and fats into powder for use in seasonings. Curious? Come and find out.
On Wednesday, June 24, from noon to 6 p.m., the South Hills Food Festival will be held at the South Hills School of Business and Technology, 480 Waupelani Drive. Local farmers and food vendors will be there with free food samples, which you can enjoy while listening to live music. Several chefs are scheduled to demonstrate their expertise. Some of those coming to South Hills are: Knowledge Café, Allen Street Grill, The Nittany Lion Inn, Rotelli, Spats, Home D, Harrison’s, Gemelli Bakery, Reinhart Foodservice, South Hills School of Business and Technology, Gigi’s, The Farm Café, El Gringo and Faccia Luna.
Also on Wednesday, you can watch a Salad Dressings Chef Demo at Spats Café, 142 E. College Ave., State College. Reservations are required. Call (814) 238-7010 for times and to hold a spot. This is the same demo that is being presented at South Hills at noon. The chef will educate you about different versions of creamy, oil-based, fruit-based and other dressings.
Thursday June 25 events includes another happy hour special from Home D and Robin Hood Brewing Co.
There will also be a special in-store demo at Kitchen Kaboodle, 104 West Beaver Ave., State College.
From 3 to 7 p.m., visitors will be invited to cool off with flavored iced teas — flavors include raspberry nectar, mango peach and blood orange.
Spat’s will present Pairing Wine with Artisan cheese at Spat’s Café on Thursday. Again, reservations are required. You will be surprised to find out how different cheeses taste with varied wines.
Friday, June 26 events features the Kitchen Kaboodle with a Mexican Botana, small bites with a Mexican twist at the store from 3 to 7 p.m.
Friday at Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre, you can watch the film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Gates open at 8 p.m. and you can visit the concession stand and search for a “golden ticket” to win prizes.
Home D Pizzeria and Robin Hood Brewing Co. again run happy hour on Friday and also have live entertainment with no cover charge.
Also on Friday, Spats Café is holding a Cajun and Creole Gumbo Chef Demo. Reservations are needed.
On Saturday, June 27, stop in at Kitchen Kaboodle and see an in-store demo of Nordicaware Baking Pans and Sweet and Savory Treats. The demo runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Spats will again present “Home Made Ice Cream and or Fruit Based Sorbet.” These treats can be made in one hour and are reported as “delicious.”
Lori Miller, Director of Visitor and Member Services for Central PA Convention and Visitors Bureau, expects Happy Valley Culinary Week to be a success once again.
Miller says seating is limited for the Spats demonstrations. The demonstrations at Spats Café are on Monday, June 22 through Saturday, June 27. Each day, there will be demos from 4 to 5 p.m.
According to Miller, the presenters are: Chef/owner Duke Gastiger and Spats Café and reFarmCafe Executive Chef Christopher Speranza.
Tickets can be obtained by emailing your name, demonstration day and number of tickets to duke.gastiger@gmail.com.
Miller also highlighted the event on Wednesday at the South Hills Business School.
“The Food Festival, with all the chefs coming out, music and vendors promises to be a great experience,” she says.
All the Culinary Week Restaurants will offer a discounted, multi-course fixed price menu during their hours of operation. The opportunity to sample a broad selection of food from various restaurants at a reasonable price is one that the public should not miss.
Most meals feature three courses with appetizer, entrée and dessert.
For more information about Happy Valley Culinary Week, visit www.visitpennstate.org.
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